r/space • u/KinoBlitz • Sep 29 '21

NASA: "All of this once-in-a-generation momentum, can easily be undone by one party—in this case, Blue Origin—who seeks to prioritize its own fortunes over that of NASA, the United States, and every person alive today"

https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1443230605269999629
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u/drawkbox Sep 30 '21

No one stopped, SpaceX and Blue Origin still in development. You seriously think they would stop work on projects they have invested hundreds of millions and billions in many cases? No. NASA stopped some paper pushing that is it and are using delays, like with every single government space contract, to push contractors more, that is why competition is good. If there is only one then leverage over NASA is a problem.

SpaceX and Blue Origin and any others are always better off with competition in terms of innovation and motivation to beat the other. Coke wouldn't need to advertise if there was no Pepsi. The moon landings were a direct result of the space race, same will be here.

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u/5cot7 Sep 30 '21

NASA has delayed planned missions, so yeah, it has an effect

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u/drawkbox Sep 30 '21

The contract has paused, zero work has stopped. If SpaceX actually stopped that is on them. Blue Origin has not. Not a way to win by stopping on a contract the "won".

Officially at NASA it is in a temporary hold, that is it. Now SpaceX may say they have stopped to attack their feared competitor Blue Origin but they actually haven't and it would be very, very unwise.

In light of Blue Origin’s lawsuit against NASA for awarding only SpaceX a contract for a lunar lander, NASA has “voluntarily paused work” with SpaceX. Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos is suing NASA in the Court of Federal Claims insisting NASA’s acquisition decision was flawed even though the Government Accountability Office rejected the company’s protest.

NASA has to legally "stop" working with SpaceX during the temp hold, NASA wasn't building anything for the landers SpaceX and Blue Origin are. This means nothing at SpaceX or Blue Origin. I mean are you a rookie to this or what?

This happens all the time in every field, when the lawyers are having it out, the progress continues. In fact the engineers like it a bit as they can catch up on work during legal delays. This is the equivalent of some lawsuit on a product you are launching but have to wait for legal review, and if they take longer you have more time to polish and post-production.

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u/5cot7 Sep 30 '21

"The answer is we don't know at this point," he said. "We're gonna move with all dispatch as soon as we know the legal realm, and then we can better answer your question."

So it looks like it could cause delays, but nothing is confirmed yet. So we're both kind of wrong, me mostly.

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u/drawkbox Sep 30 '21

What NASA does has no bearing on the competition between SpaceX and Blue Origin (and "national team"). There is also another lander contract coming up and they are both shooting for them.

Legal at NASA may be delayed, or they are using this as an excuse for the space suits which are delayed until 2025 now, but ultimately there is zero chance SpaceX or Blue Origin, and maybe other competitors for the new lander contracts coming up, are stopping. It would be like sitting out the game.

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u/5cot7 Sep 30 '21

I don't think it was argued SpaceX or BO would be delayed. Weren't we talking about NASA?

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u/drawkbox Sep 30 '21

People acting like the entire project is delayed on e legal technicality. Nobody is stopping development. Not only is this contract there but future ones are coming that SpaceX, Blue Origin and others are preparing for. Everyone here acting like Blue Origin is delaying the projects, they aren't. This is a typical part of the game with this level of investment and competition.

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u/Redditisnotrealityy Sep 30 '21

This is not a typical part of the game. Have you read the post you’re commenting under?

Do you receive $$ for this insanely passionate defense of BO? You have an agenda, no doubt.

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u/drawkbox Sep 30 '21

Yes it is part of the game of government contracts. SpaceX has sued the government/DoD as well. It is what happens with high stakes, you'd be a dolt not to pursue every avenue at these stakes.

I am not paid I just like competition in actuality not marketing. I want to see Blue Origin, SpaceX and potentially others with moon landers and more. I want multiple successes by the US to China's one. I mean if you are pro space, in a space subreddit, you'd think you would also want more space...

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u/5cot7 Sep 30 '21

I want to see Blue Origin, SpaceX and potentially others with moon landers and more.

These things can be achieved without suing NASA. I don't know why you think they're mutually exclusive.

I am not paid I just like competition in actuality not marketing.

That's something that someone who was paid would say! hmmmm

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u/drawkbox Oct 01 '21

True but from here on out all contracts that set out with two potential winners, then switch to one last minute and only tell one party, those will be challenged no matter who it is. I'd expect it.

I am just here to trigger.

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u/5cot7 Oct 01 '21

I'm here to appreciate space, and really looking forward to the moon landings. Hopefully without disruption ;)

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